Surah Zumar Ayat 9 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 9
Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.
Is one who worships devoutly during the hour of the night prostrating himself or standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope in the Mercy of his Lord – (like one who does not)? Say: “Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.
Is such a person (preferable or he) who is obedient, and prostrates himself in the watches of the night, stands (in Prayer), is fearful of the Hereafter, and looks forward to the mercy of His Lord? Ask them: “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only those endowed with understanding take heed.
Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)? Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not?” It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allah’s Signs and Verses).
Is he who payeth adoration in the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, bewaring of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, (to be accounted equal with a disbeliever)? Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed.
Is he who is devoutly (praying) at various times of the night, prostrate and upright, being wary of the Hereafter, and hoping for the mercy of his Lord (the same as the disbeliever)? Say, “Are the ones who know equal to the ones who do not know?” Surely only the ones endowed with intellects would remind themselves.
What about someone who worships devoutly during the night, bowing down, standing in prayer, ever mindful of the life to come, hoping for his Lord’s mercy? Say, ‘How can those who know be equal to those who do not know?’ Only those who have understanding will take heed.
بھلا جو شخص راتوں کے اوقات سجدے اور قیام کی حالت میں (عبادت میں) گزارتا ہو، آخرت سے ڈرتا ہو اور اپنے رب کی رحمت کی امید رکھتا ہو، (اور جو اس کے برعکس ہو برابر ہو سکتے ہیں) بتاؤ تو علم والے اور بے علم کیا برابر کے ہیں؟ یقیناً نصیحت وہی حاصل کرتے ہیں جو عقلمند ہوں۔ (اپنے رب کی طرف سے)
Quran 39 Verse 9 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Zumar ayat 9, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(39:9) Is such a person (preferable or he) who is obedient, and prostrates himself in the watches of the night, stands (in Prayer), is fearful of the Hereafter, and looks forward to the mercy of His Lord? Ask them: “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”[28] Only those endowed with understanding take heed.
28. It should be noted that two kinds of the men are being contrasted here. First, those who turn to Allah when a calamity befalls them, but worship others than Allah normally. Second, those who have made it their permanent way of life to obey Allah and worship and serve Him, and their worshiping Him in solitude during the night is a proof of their sincerity. The first kind of the men have been called ignorant by Allah, even if they might have devoured whole libraries. And the second kind of the men have been called the learned, even if they might be illiterate. For the real supremely important thing is the knowledge of the truth and man’s action according to it, and on this depends his true success. Allah asks: How can these two be equal? How can they possibly follow the same way together in the world, and meet with the same end in the Hereafter?
Ibn-Kathir
9. Is one who is obedient to Allah, Ana’a Al-Layl prostrating and standing fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not” It is only men of understanding who will remember.
Allah says, `is the one who is like this equal to one who associates others in worship with Allah and sets up rivals to Him’ They are not equal before Allah, as He says:
(Not all of them are alike; a party of the People of the Scripture stand for the right, they recite the Ayat of Allah Ana’a Al-Layl, prostrating themselves (in prayer).) (3:113). And Allah says here:
(Is one who is obedient to Allah, Ana’a Al-Layl prostrating and standing) meaning, one who is humble and fears Allah when he prostrates and stands (in prayer). It was reported that Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “The obedient one is one who obeys Allah and His Messenger .” Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Al-Hasan, As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd said, Ana’a Al-Layl means in the depths of the night.
(fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord.) means, in his worship he feels both fear and hope. Both are essential in worship, and fear should be stronger during one’s lifetime. Allah says:
(fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord. ) At the time of death, hope is uppermost, as Imam `Abd bin Humayd recorded in his Musnad from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said, “The Messenger of Allah entered upon a man who was dying, and said to him,
(How do you feel) He said, `I am both afraid and hopeful.’ The Messenger of Allah said:
(These do not co-exist in a person’s heart at times such as this, but Allah will give him what he hopes for and protect him from that which he fears.)” This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i in Al-Yawm wal-Laylah, and Ibn Majah from the Hadith of Yasar bin Hatim from Ja`far bin Sulayman. At-Tirmidhi said, “Gharib.” Imam Ahmad recorded that Tamim Ad-Dari, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah said:
(Whoever recites one hundred Ayat in one night, it will be recorded as if he prayed all night.) This was also recorded by An-Nasa’i in Al-Yawm wal-Laylah.
(Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not”) means, is this one equal with the one who sets up rivals to Allah to mislead (men) from His path
(It is only men of understanding who will remember. ) means, the only one who will understand the difference between them is the one who has understanding. And Allah knows best.
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